Combat Assessment

Luo Feng had been living in Mingyue Residential Area for nearly a month, and the Warrior Practical Assessment was about to begin. Qin Hao's life over the past month had been exceedingly simple: training, training, and more training.

However, unlike before, Luo Feng had often sought Qin Hao out to train together over the past month. Qin Hao did not refuse. Aside from his own training, he frequently sparred with Luo Feng as well. Throughout those sparring sessions, Qin Hao remained in a weighted state. Yet despite that, the gap between them in rank, experience, and technique meant Qin Hao still utterly crushed Luo Feng.

"This is one of the few chances I'll get to utterly crush the future Earth Lord, Galaxy Lord, Lord Luo." Whenever Qin Hao thought of this, he could not help wanting to record the whole process. It would become Luo Feng's embarrassing history in the future.

After a month of training, Qin Hao's improvement had been quite obvious. His Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens had advanced further, and his strength had increased by nearly 2,000 kilograms over the month. Including his gains from June, Qin Hao's strength had already reached around 12,000 kilograms. He would soon reach Intermediate War General.

His greatest gains had come from practicing Internal Martial Arts and other fist techniques. After reaching Manifest Force a month ago, Qin Hao's control over his own strength had grown increasingly precise. With his sharp five senses, exceptional comprehension, and the systematic experience of the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens in body tempering, Qin Hao was getting closer and closer to Hidden Force.

On the morning of August 1st, Qin Hao got up early. After receiving his family's reminders, he left Mingyue Residential Area with Luo Feng and headed off to take the Quasi-Warrior Assessment.

Led by the martial arts center staff, Qin Hao and Luo Feng joined more than thirty Quasi-Warriors on their way to the train station. They boarded a special train bound for the military district, preparing to begin the Combat Assessment.

"There are really quite a lot of people taking the Warrior Practical Assessment."

"Of course. More than 1,500 people are taking the Combat Assessment this time, but fewer than 1,000 will ultimately pass."

Inside the carriage, some chatted with those beside them, while others stared silently ahead, looking rather calm. The screens on the special train continuously played videos from various factions, including the Underground Alliance, the military, the Limitless Martial Arts Center, and the Thunder God Martial Hall.

Qin Hao, Luo Feng, and Yang Wu, who was also taking the Combat Assessment, did not speak much throughout the journey. Qin Hao remained immersed in pondering Hidden Force, Yang Wu appeared extremely nervous, while Luo Feng closed his eyes to rest.

"Quasi-Warriors, the train will soon arrive at the station. Please prepare to disembark."

The carriage doors opened, and the Quasi-Warriors from each carriage began getting off. The vast crowd entered the military camp. Unlike the comfort of the Base City, the moment they entered the camp, they heard all kinds of beastly roars. Bird beasts occasionally flew overhead, their cries ringing clearly through the air.

"Everyone, welcome to the Northern Military Region of Jiangnan Base City. The Warrior Practical Assessment for all 1,681 of you will be held by the military district this time. I hope most of you can pass the assessment, and I also hope you can survive this Combat Assessment."

"Now, Quasi-Warriors whose names are called, step forward to collect your Combat Suits and weapons."

"Fang Genxing."

"Lu Ruiting."

"Qin Hao."

The moment Qin Hao heard his name, he quickly stepped forward to collect his Combat Suit, Battle Boots, weapon, and Communication Watch. The equipment prepared by the military district was relatively basic, costing roughly seven to eight hundred thousand for a full set.

Qin Hao quickly changed into all his equipment in the rest area. This set of equipment fit a warrior just right, but for Qin Hao, who was already a Beginner War General and had undergone two months of abdominal training, the equipment on his body felt much lighter.

As Qin Hao swung the longsword in his hand and adapted to its weight along with the weight on his body, Luo Feng and Yang Wu also finished changing.

"Qin Hao, Luo Feng, come with me." After saying this, Wu Tong led Qin Hao and Luo Feng to the second floor of a quiet little building. Several people sat gathered in the living room upstairs. One of them was Zhuge Tao, his angel investor.

"Supervisor Zhuge!" Qin Hao and Luo Feng called out at the same time!

"Qin Hao, Luo Feng, sit over there with Wu Tong." Zhuge Tao pointed toward the nearby rest area as he spoke. Qin Hao knew what would happen next, so he said nothing and continued focusing on his training. He no longer paid attention to the conversation between Zhuge Tao and the others, nor did he give Wan Dong's provocation the slightest response.

By evening, the Warrior Practical Assessment was about to begin. The Quasi-Warriors, including Qin Hao, had already arrived outside the town designated for the Combat Assessment under the soldiers' guidance. Faint beastly roars could be heard all around, and figures occasionally darted through the darkness.

"Quasi-Warriors, the Combat Assessment will begin at six-thirty and end at six-thirty tomorrow morning. The more you kill, the higher your score. For every Monster you kill, cut off its left ear as proof."

"Remember, Quasi-Warriors are forbidden from killing one another during the assessment. All your movements are under surveillance. Violators will be executed by shooting."

"Only 60% of you will pass the Combat Assessment. The remaining 40% will be eliminated and must wait until next time to take it again. Based on previous records, hunting three Monsters is enough to ensure that you pass. So, if you want to succeed, start killing."

After announcing the rules, the soldiers retreated in an orderly fashion back into the Military Base. Seeing this, Qin Hao greeted Luo Feng and Yang Wu before taking the lead into Monster Town.

Although the town used for the Combat Assessment had gone through many assessments and suffered considerable damage from Monsters and warriors, it still retained traces of human habitation.

It was a typical southern town, with Jiangnan Water Town architecture stretching out before Qin Hao. After entering the town, Qin Hao began searching for his prey. The Monsters in this assessment posed no difficulty for him. The only thing he needed to overcome was the hurdle in his own heart—to adapt to killing.

Qin Hao's blatant appearance on the town streets quickly drew the attention of the surrounding Monsters. Several Shadow Cats watched him from shadowed corners among the buildings, their green-glowing eyes fixed on him as they prepared to strike at any moment.

Qin Hao did not care and continued forward. Right now, he needed to play the prey and wait for those Monsters to come to him. Before he had taken more than a few steps, the Shadow Cats could no longer wait. They sprang swiftly across walls and rooftops, attacking Qin Hao directly from above.

Though they were all low-level Beast Soldiers, Shadow Cats were far faster than other Beast Soldiers of the same kind due to their speed-oriented nature. With their agile bodies, they pushed that speed to the limit. An ordinary warrior, even an Intermediate Warrior, could only flee when faced with such a situation.

But Qin Hao was no ordinary warrior. He was a Beginner War General, and one with Microscopic Movement Technique and Mastered Saber Technique. When the Shadow Cats launched their attack, Qin Hao did not rush. Instead, when they reached his side, his body moved swiftly and rhythmically, evading each attack one by one.

At the same time, the saber in his hand flashed rapidly. Not a single strike was wasted as it swiftly sliced through the Shadow Cats' necks. Blood sprayed through the air, and Qin Hao's figure had already vanished from where he stood, leaving only the corpses of several Shadow Cats to hit the ground.

Qin Hao looked at his results and took in the bloody smell around him, but he felt no discomfort at all. Instead, he felt perfectly calm.

"Looks like I'm naturally suited to be an executioner." After teasing himself, Qin Hao cut off the left ears of the Shadow Cats and placed them in his Backpack.

"I can already pass the Combat Assessment, but for my first real battle, let me kill to my heart's content."